Students from the Nazarbayev University School of Mining and Geosciences became the first representatives from Kazakhstan to participate in PDAC 2026, held in Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦 — one of the world’s leading events for the mineral resources sector.
As part of the Student Colloquium, the students presented their poster titled “Rare Earth Elements in Northern Kazakhstan.” Conducted under the guidance of postdoctoral researcher Medet Junussov, the study explores ion-adsorption clays within the Sukhtal granite complex in the Kostanay region as a promising unconventional source of rare earth elements.
Participation in PDAC 2026 provided the students with a valuable opportunity to present their research to an international audience, engage with current developments in the mineral resources sector, and represent both Nazarbayev University and Kazakhstan on a global platform.
The students sincerely thank Nazarbayev University for its support in making this important academic opportunity possible. They express special gratitude to the NU Impact Foundation for its partnership and strong support of student talent and social initiatives.
They also extend their appreciation to the Department of Student Services (DSS) for its support of student participation in international academic and professional opportunities, and to the Association for the Development of Student Life (ADSL) for helping provide the funding that made this participation and research trip possible.
The School of Mining and Geosciences is proud of its students’ achievement and their contribution to discussions on the future of mineral resources. Their participation in PDAC 2026 reflects SMG’s commitment to supporting student research, encouraging international engagement, and strengthening the visibility of Kazakhstan’s emerging research in the Earth and mineral sciences.
As part of the Student Colloquium, the students presented their poster titled “Rare Earth Elements in Northern Kazakhstan.” Conducted under the guidance of postdoctoral researcher Medet Junussov, the study explores ion-adsorption clays within the Sukhtal granite complex in the Kostanay region as a promising unconventional source of rare earth elements.
Participation in PDAC 2026 provided the students with a valuable opportunity to present their research to an international audience, engage with current developments in the mineral resources sector, and represent both Nazarbayev University and Kazakhstan on a global platform.
The students sincerely thank Nazarbayev University for its support in making this important academic opportunity possible. They express special gratitude to the NU Impact Foundation for its partnership and strong support of student talent and social initiatives.
They also extend their appreciation to the Department of Student Services (DSS) for its support of student participation in international academic and professional opportunities, and to the Association for the Development of Student Life (ADSL) for helping provide the funding that made this participation and research trip possible.
The School of Mining and Geosciences is proud of its students’ achievement and their contribution to discussions on the future of mineral resources. Their participation in PDAC 2026 reflects SMG’s commitment to supporting student research, encouraging international engagement, and strengthening the visibility of Kazakhstan’s emerging research in the Earth and mineral sciences.
